MADISON COUNTY, situated on the westerly boundary of Illinois, on the Mississippi river. Area, 760 square miles. Face of the country level; soil fertile. Seat of justice, Edwardsville. Pop. in 1830, 6,229; in 1840, 14,433; In 1850, 20,436. (Fanning's, 1853)
MADISON COUNTY Is situated in the south-west part of the state, on the Mississippi river, opposite the mouth of'the Missouri and nearly opposite the city of St. Louis. It is intersected by the Cahokia creek and drained by Silver creek and its branches. The surface is elevated and undulating, diversified by prairies and woodlands. The river bottom below Alton is several miles wide, and bounded on the east by a bluff which rises from 100 to 300 feet. The soil is remarkably fertile and is extensively cultivated. Corn, wheat, oats, potatoes, pork and butter are the staples. There are in the county over 4,000 pupils attending public schools, and about 300 attending academies or other schools. The county contains a very large number of churches and several newspaper offices. It is intersected by the St. Louis, Alton & Chicago and Terre Haute & Alton railroads. Capital, Edwardsville. Population, about 35,000. County Judge, M. G. Dale. (Hawes' Illinois State Gazetteer...,1859)